‘High risk’ fear at Jacksdale practice

Picture: PA Wire

Published:07:00Monday 24 November 2014

A Jacksdale medical practice could be placing patients at risk - according to new figures released by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The commission, which is the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England, has produced the Ofsted-style league table to allow patients to check the quality of care on offer from GP practices.

It has ranked 7,276 practices out of the total 7,661 in England, and revealed 861 practices are showing ‘highest concern’ (Band 1) while a further 336 nationally are in Band 2, where significant concern is also acknowledged.

Jacksdale Medical Centre was placed in category 1, the CQC said.

It revealed how treatment of patients with diabetes was presenting an ‘elevated risk’, while too few patients were happy with the practice opening hours.

Around the East Midlands, 48 practices were put in the ‘highest concern’ Band 1, with a further 28 practices placed in Band 2.

A total of 24 practices in the region were placed in Band 3, 43 in Band 4 and 82 in Band 5. A total of 345 practices were placed in Band 6 - presenting the lowest risk to patients.

All the other GP practices in Eastwood, Kimberley and Selston were placed in Band 6.

Prof Steve Field from the CQC said: “It is important to remember that the data is not a judgement, as it is only when we inspect we can determine if a practice provides safe, high-quality and compassionate care.

“The data is a further tool that will help us to decide where to inspect and when.

“I do have concerns about access to practices. But we need to do more to encourage people to take better care of themselves and to make better use of pharmacies.

“We’re also sadly finding some very poor practices. These typically are chaotic, have very poor leadership and a lack of learning culture.

“They also have a poor skill mix, some don’t have any nurses.”

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